5 simple ways to kick start your weight loss

Everyone knows that sticking to a healthy eating plan and exercise regime is hard but finding the motivation to start your journey can be just as difficult too. You may have been thinking about starting a weight loss scheme for some time but if just haven’t had the catalyst to begin, trying these simple ways to kick start your plans and set you on the right path for success...

Plan your meals in advance – Next time you plan on a trip to the supermarket, take some time beforehand to sit down and plan all of your meals for the next week. Sometimes eating healthily, especially if you choose a clean eating route, can seem like a lot of hassle when it comes to preparing food but knowing you have all the ingredients to hand and can prepare meals ahead can make it much easier and quicker.

Set some realistic goals – When you start a weight loss plan it’s likely you have a big goal in mind, either in terms of reaching a certain weight or achieving an exercise target. It can be tempting to focus on your end goal but breaking it down into smaller, more realistic goals can help you stay focussed and get you started. A goal of losing 2 stone in time for a big holiday sounds far more daunting than an aim of losing 4 pounds over a fortnight. Once you’ve reached a goal make sure you set another to maintain motivation but don’t get disheartened if you miss one occasionally.

Find a weight loss buddy – Having someone to work out and eat healthily with is a huge motivation as you won’t want to let them down and you could even create a bit of friendly competition to keep driving yourself forward. If you don’t know anyone that is trying to lose weight or interested in getting fitter, joining a fitness class or weight loss group is a great option for getting some additional support and encouragement from people that have similar goals to you.

Try a fitness tracker – Using wearable technology can help keep you going and make you work towards your own goals and breaking personal bests. Set realistic goals, such as walking 10,000 steps a day or doing moderate to high activity for 30 minutes a day. Once you see the progress you’re making you’ll want to keep improving. Fitness trackers provide a great visual way to see how you’re working towards your goals each day.

Sign up for an exercise event – When you start on your weight loss journey why not sign up to a fitness event, such as a 5k run or a long hike? It’ll provide you with a goal to work towards and because you’ve already signed up you’re less likely to back out. Pick out something that you’ll enjoy doing or can take part in with family and friends to maintain your enthusiasm as you work towards it.

I got myself a fitness tracker after my daughter (12) got one for school, and as she was going out for walks on the weekends and after school, it was really effective for her. And since I’ve gotten my own, it’s been a good motivation for me to go further each week. It’s Been fun. And we’ve signed up, as a family, to do the St. Jude’s marathon, but it’s next year, so we all have a goal set for us to train for. A charity walk/run, especially to benefit kids is something hard to not want to strive for. Just find something you believe in.

Kelly on September 14, 2016

Trying a fitness tracker is a brilliant idea. I’ve actually never thought of this before, but I can definitely see the benefits. I think it’s also a good idea to plan your meals in advance as it really helps to prevent snacking and eating junk food. Great tips! Thanks for sharing.